PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM
China refuses to apologise for ‘bully tactics’
Wellington/Sydney — The Micronesian state of Nauru has demanded a formal apology after a dispute with China’s representative at this week’s Pacific Islands Forum brought to the surface tensions with Beijing over its support for Taiwan. China, however, said it is Nauru, one of the world’s smallest countries, that should be saying sorry. Nauru, an island country of about 12,000 inhabitants, hosted leaders of 18 Pacific nations, plus delegations from nonmember countries including the US and China, for the forum. The spat occurred when Nauru’s President Baron Waqa refused to give way when the head of the Chinese delegation, diplomat Du Qiwen, demanded to be allowed to address the forum before the Prime Minister of Tuvalu on Tuesday. Waqa described China’s envoy as "very insolent" and a "bully" for speaking out of turn.
Nauru and Tuvalu are two of six Pacific countries to have diplomatic ties with Taiwan, which is a major source of tension with China, which regards Taiwan as a wayw...
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